A special thank you to Samantha for all the lovely gifts I received. It was so fun to play. I’m sad it’s over, but all good things come to an end. Thank you to Juanita and Chloe who organised this swop, you two are so hard working! It was a great first experience for me. 🙂

I will definitely participate in next year’s swop! I would be in Zurich then, perhaps I can find some interesting things to include. ^^

This is Day 8 and the swop is soon coming to a close.. That will be sad, because I really enjoy the process of taking photos and squealing at all the cool gifts I open.

It’s PEZ!! I remember having one. I only had one as a child, because they were not available in Malaysia at that time. I got mine from New Zealand on a family holiday, but I can’t remember what character I bought. Just a few years ago, Michael bought me a Spongebob PEZ in Zurich. I hope he still kept it somewhere because I’d like to display this Strawberry Shortcake one along with Spongebob!

I’m not familiar with Strawberry Shortcake, the character, even though the cartoons were supposedly running around the time I was a child. Not everything was easily available in Malaysia, so yeah, I didn’t know anything about her, sadly!

Mmm I do like PEZ sweets, they’re so fun to dispense. I’ve cut down my sugar intake and sweets, but once in a while I like to indulge. 😀

I found the corresponding photo! Oh if only I opened that envelope earlier, I could have taken a photo of each item and their clues. Hindsight… 😛

I’m so excited to blog about this one hehe… I picked a different wrapping paper for today. It’s very pretty too. I originally took a photo of it upside down, until I realised, wait.. those are baubles, and turned it around for another photo, haha.

So it’s a bead bracelet! The shimmery mystic colours are very attractive on faceted beads. Can’t wait to put it on.

It fits like a glove, OMG. My wrists are so skinny thin, most bracelets and bangles are just too big and flop around like no one’s business. I have given away all those bracelets because they just looked ridiculous on me. Don’t worry Samantha, I have to say that these are just the right fit! Most stretch bracelets out there are simply too big, but this one is perfect. The bracelet stops halfway up my arm, and that’s just right for me. 🙂

I love the chunky faceted mystic beads.. they go so well with the metal accents. I found myself wearing it all day as soon as I opened the package. Another fantastic gift from Samantha. Thank you!

Almost halfway now! I’m trying to pick different wrapping papers each day so they don’t all look the same from post to post. Today’s gift:

Oh my, it’s a really cute manicure tool set! I’ve never seen such novel designs on manicure tools before (maybe I just do go searching enough :P). I love them! These will be very nice to keep on display on my dressing table. Usually these tools are kinda boring and plain, but they are boring no more! Now for some close up shots.

I had not realised the backs of these three girls are also printed. That is TOO cute. I’ve already used the nail file, before painting my nails. Yay!

In some way, they also remind me of Blythe dolls. 🙂 Thank you Samantha! I am having so much fun with all your thoughtful gifts. You are a lovely Santa!

I love how everything I have gotten so far, aren’t things I would have thought to buy for myself. I never even thought to buy these things for the swap partner I sent to (Chloe). That’s why swaps are so wonderful and surprising. I really feel humbled at all the goodies Samantha’s been spoiling me with. Almost every package so far contained more than one item.

Today’s piece:

OMG nail polish, this is amazing! Just recently, while I was packing up my life, I had to throw away all my old nail polish bottles that were 9 years old that I rarely touched. They were all half dried and gross-looking, so they had to go. I didn’t replace them with any more, but now I have these two gorgeous colours to start off my new collection. And after browsing through Ally McBally’s blog, I must say I’m starting to feel the obsession with nail lacquer. 😀

And here they are on my toes. I find that I rather like painting my toenails. Please excuse my ugly feet and poor paint job! I used the NYC In a Minute, 247 Prince Street.